Customer Reviews

Summer Blowout

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Claire Cook has done it again! It seems as though she's created her own genre: wonderful. moving, and breezy summer reads. How could anyone resist Bella Shaughnessy, the newly single entrepreneur who, after swearing off men, finds herself falling for one? I've always appreciated comfort food; what I didn't know until I read Claire Cook's novels is that there was such a thing as comfort reads. She's the sort of writer who hides her great talents behind her all-too-human characters, almost all of whom operate from a profound sense of goodwill and, despite their trials and tribulations, optimism. You can't finish this book without a smile on your face and a burning desire to read more Claire Cook novels.

"Summer Blowout" is about Bella, a hairdresser, in an Irish (spelled I-t-a-l-i-a-n) family of hairdressers. The story is similar to a perfectly seasoned marinara sauce; with a pinch of hope, heartache, determination, wit and love -- with an extra pinch of humor (to "boot"). For dessert there is the little dog named, Cannoli, that Bella adopts--sort of. It's a great read and even has some cosmetic tips I found useful. I really enjoyed it!!

--A Foglia

SUMMER BLOWOUT

Claire Cook has again succeeded in creating a funny, nostalgic and satisfying summer read. This book has all the ingredients you want to accompany a beach chair and a few cans of cold beer on an afternoon ALONE at the beach; romance, slapstick comedy, family relationships and by the way, a few good tips on starting a new business and doing your own marketing. I not only greatly enjoyed this story, I learned something while I was at it! I love the way Claire develops characters through dialogue - it makes them come alive and also makes them soooo real. I loved Bella, the heroine. She so reminds me of one of my best friends - she says the things I aways want to say but can't quite bring myself to blurt out. Claire, I've read all your books so far and can't wait for the next one. You are living my dream!

I'm a journalist on Cape Cod who received an advance copy of Claire Cook's most recent book, "Summer Blowout."

I've interviewed Claire several times, and have read all five of her books. I find Claire to be a complete delight, and I think that "Summer Blowout" is her best book yet - and this from someone who has long held on to "Must Love Dogs" as my absolute favorite Claire Cook book.

"Summer Blowout" will be the must-read book this summer. I would encourage readers to grab a copy of this book, a tube of their favorite lipstick, and prepare to be delighted and transported to the delightful world of the Shaughnessy's - the most entertaining faux-Italian/Irish clan you'll ever meet.

Candace Hammond
http://candyonthecape.blogspot.com

Bella Shaughnessy works at her family salon(s) with her brother and four sisters (two of them half). And also her two stepmothers, thought we see them much less. Her over the top father runs the whole business. He's been obsessed with Italy forever even though they are of Irish ancestry. If this isn't the setup for a hilarious story I don't know what is. I immediately thought of the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and all the inter family antics.

Bella has been divorced from her ex-husband Craig for about a year now ever since, while they were separated he starting sleeping with/going out with her half-sister Sophia. This understandably creates some family tension.

At a college fair where the salon has a booth, Bella meets a man by the name of Sean Ryan who turns her onto the idea of creating beauty kits. Through this interaction they begin a friendship and maybe even more.

Now all these human characters are great, but Precious/Cannoli the dog takes the cake. I can't remember ever loving or wanting a dog this much! She has so much personality!

The story is pretty simple and straight forward. I think the book really shines when it is just Bella being herself or making observations. I love the part of the "Silly Siren" bride and family whom no one can understand when they speak. Bella is just funny!

I really enjoyed this book and definitely want to read more by author Claire Cook.

When the warm weather finally arrives, all I want to do is stretch out on my beach chair, dig my toes into the sand, and drift away with an engaging, enthralling, entertaining novel - and "Summer Blowout," by Claire Cook, delivers on all counts! The author of "Must Love Dogs" and "Life's a Beach" has a gift for building a humorous plot around what otherwise might seem like disastrous circumstances. In this case, protagonist Bella Shaughnessy, who is still adjusting to her recent divorce, is grappling with the treachery of her once-beloved step-sister, who has taken up with Bella's ex-husband. And it's a situation she cannot easily escape, since she works at one of her father's Italian-style salons with the rest of the blended family of hairstylists and makeup artists in a small seaside town. The heroine is so captivating that you immediately get swept away into her hilarious world of lipstick addiction, dog-disguising antics, and romantic misadventures. I literally could not put it down, and was wishing for more when I got to the end.

Great pace, wonderful idiosyncratic characters, good descriptions about where we were. I pictured Danny DeVito as the patriarch. The details made this cute, funny story sing. Enjoyed it. I would read something by this author again, which really is the highest compliment.

After 10 years of marriage Bella Shaughnessy's husband leaves her and after the divorce he starts dating Bella's half-sister Sophia. To make matters worse all of Lucky Shaughnessy's children, from 3 different wives, work for Lucky in his hair salon/make up artist business so Bella has to work with Sophia on a daily basis.

On one of her make-up artist gigs Bella meets Sean Ryan. Bella however is still hurting over her ex and her sister's betrayal so she keeps him at arm's length and just when Sean starts to break down the wall Bella puts up, he starts to get cold feet about dating a recently divorced woman.

Summer Blowout is a fun quick read. I quickly fell in love with Bella, her dysfunctional family and her new puppy with highlights in his fur. I highly recommend this book for chick-lit lovers even though it's lighter than the typical "working girl gets boy" chick-lit story. Cook's writing is genuine with lots of humor.

Bella is furious and heartborken. Her ex-husband was stolen by her half-sister, Sophia, BEFORE he was her ex. She is done with men and doesn't ever want to see Sophia again. The last is a little difficult since her father owns a number of beauty salons in Boston and the whole family works in the business....inlcuding two of his ex-wives. While working at a college fair, she meets Sean Ryan, an entrepreneur who is attracted to Bella. Bella likes Sean, but is afraid to let herself fall in love again. First, she has to discover who SHE is and what she really wants out of life.

I really liked this book. It is a perfect "beach read". It's funny, full of quirky characters including a little terrier dog called Precious (or Cannelloni, depending on who is asking), has a little bit of romance, and a plot that many of us can probably relate to. I read the whole book in one sitting. I highly recommend this lightly entertaining novel. It's definitely a "feel good" book.

Summer is now officially upon us - and what better way to entertain yourself than with a terrific beach read set right here in Massachusetts. Wherever you are, you will find Claire Cook's latest novel full of adventure, romance, and humor.

Summer Blowout by Claire Cook, published by Hyperion Books is about Bella Shaughnessy, a makeup artist in a very large family of Irish hairdressers (who admit they seem as Italian as Irish - but this is Massachusetts, you know) on the South Side of Boston (often called the Irish Riviera), who, after becoming fed up with men when she discovers her husband has been two-timing her with half sister Sophia, decides to swear off men once and for all. Something a lot of of us gals can readily identify with.

Bella's main passion in life is lipstick - she has a bona fide lipstick addiction and chooses lipstick to match her mood. Not one to be stuck in the dumps, Bella, discovers a perky dog she was assigned to dog sit but which she becomes so attached to that she must keep it - after renaming it Cannoli.

Life, love, lipstick, Cannoli, the beach, all conspire to whip up a man for Bella. A perfect man just seems to waltz into her life. Does Bella go for the big one (this new guy?) after swearing off men? Read to find out.

Reading Summer Blowout has done three things for me: I realized I need even more lipstick shades than I currently own - (at least 6 - need something new and fresh for this summer), I need a perky, adorable pooch, and I want to go to the beach something fierce.

Romantic comedy at its best.

Excerpt:

"I made it to my first gig in record time, possibly propelled by the smoke coming out of my years. Then I waited. And waited.

I couldn't take it anymore. I fumbled in my makeup kit so I could sneak another quick fix. After some consideration, I decided Revlon Super Lustrous in Pink Afterglow was a good choice for a recently divorced brunette with green eyes and ivory skin who'd just attacked her ex-husband's car and had lips that were a lot dryer than they used to be.

...Sometimes the makeup artist is like a rock star. She's the guru you've been searching for. She can help you change your looks and maybe even your life. Other times the makeup artist is like a maid. The toughest part is you never know which one you'll be when you walk through the door. Clearly, I was not having a rock star kind of day so far.

I walked over to a shelf, closed my eyes, and grabbed a book. I was hoping for a good one, but it turned out to be something boring about torts. Whatever they are. For lack of a better idea, I balanced the book on top of my head and took a couple of long, gliding steps. In health class, back in sixth grade, we actually had to practice this to improve our posture. In hindsight, it wasn't a bad idea. It's not makeup, but good posture can go a long way toward creating the illusion of beauty.

And not to be depressing, but aren't some of the best parts of life really just an illusion?"

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